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| June 17, 2007 | Sunday | Jumadi-us-Sani 01, 1428 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
Thousands cheer Pakistan judge as rally wraps up FAISALABAD, Pakistan, June 17, 2007 (AFP) - Thousands of supporters braved the rain here Sunday to greet Pakistan's top judge, keeping the pressure on President Pervez Musharraf to end a crisis over the chief justice's ouster. About 5,000 lawyers and opposition party activists camped out through the night to greet Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry as he arrived in the eastern city of Faisalabad, completing a two-day journey from the capital Islamabad. The trip is the latest in a series of processions undertaken by the judge since Musharraf suspended him on March 9, sparking the biggest crisis of the military ruler's eight years in power. “The struggle will continue until we have an independent judiciary,”Chaudhry's supporters shouted as his motorcade arrived early Sunday in Faisalabad, to the tune of beating drums and booming firecrackers. He later delivered a speech to the cheering crowd. Nearly 60,000 Pakistanis turned out to support Chaudhry during his 290-kilometre (180-mile) trek from Islamabad to this central industrial city, waving flags and showering him with rose petals during the 22-hour voyage. “Go, Musharraf, go” was the catch phrase for the judge's latest travelling rally, which came as a trio of top US officials visited Pakistan, one of Washington's key allies in the “war on terror”. (Posted @ 13:30 PST)
Bomb blast in Kabul kills over 35 KABUL, June 17 (Reuters) - A bomb blew up a police bus in Kabul on Sunday and a senior police official said more than 35 people were killed and many others injured. The bus wreckage was drenched in blood and several other vehicles were destroyed. The bomb exploded during peak-hour traffic. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the blast. Since Friday, there have been attacks in the south, centre and north of the country, including a blast in Kabul on Saturday. (First Posted @ 09:50 PST Updated @ 10:22 PST)
Maliki asks US troops to resist arming Iraqi tribes WASHINGTON, June 17, 2007 (AFP) - Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki warned that US troops sometimes create new militias by arming Iraqi tribes, urging that such decisions be left to his government, in comments published Saturday. “Some field commanders make mistakes ... by arming tribes sometimes, and this is dangerous because this will create new militias,” Maliki said in an interview put out on Newsweek magazine's website. “I believe that the coalition forces do not know the backgrounds of the tribes. It is a job of the (Iraqi) government,” he added. The premier said his administration seeks “to arm some tribes that want to side with us, but on the condition that we should be well aware of the tribe's background and sure that it is not connected with terror.”He said arming such groups “should be under the control of the state and we should have guarantees that it will not turn into a militia.”Conducted to coincide with a surprise visit to Iraq Saturday by US Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Maliki's interview also addressed his government's efforts at national reconciliation, amid fears of a flare-up in sectarian violence after another round of mosque bombings. (Posted @ 13:28 PST)
China flood death toll rises to 128 BEIJING, June 17 (Reuters) - Severe flooding in China has left at least 128 people dead and 24 missing, with direct economic losses passing theUS$1 billion (euro750 million) mark, state media reported Sunday. Hardest-hit areas have been in southern China, including Guangdong province, the export powerhouse next to Hong Kong. (Posted @ 13:25 PST)
Cricket: England 121-4 against West Indies CHESTER-LE-STREET, England, June 17, (AFP) - England were 121 for four in reply to West Indies first innings 287, a deficit of 166 at stumps on the third day of the fourth Test at Riverside here Sunday. Andrew Strauss was 72 not out after Kevin Pietersen was out for naught to the last ball of the day. England lead the four-match series 2-0. (Posted @ 23:46 PST)
Pak-China friendship for international peace and stability: PM ISLAMABAD, Jun 17 (APP) - Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Sunday underscored the importance of Pakistan-China strategic partnership adding these relations are playing an important role in international peace and stability as well as a driving force for regional prosperity. The Prime Minister said this while speaking at a banquet hosted in his honour by the Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Luo Zhao Hui. Begum Rukhsana Aziz also accompanied the Prime Minister. (Posted @ 23:30 PST)
Small plane crashes in Malawi, killing 5 British tourists, Canadian pilot LILONGWE, Malawi, June 17, (AP) - A small plane crashed in northern Malawi, killing five British tourists and the Canadian pilot, authorities said Sunday. The Cessna was heading from the capital Lilongwe to Rumchi in the north, an area of mountains, plains and abundant wildlife, said Raymond Phesele, the government's chief aviation officer. (Posted @ 23:08 PST)
Five die in French house blaze PARIS, June 17, (REUTERS) - Five people died when they were trapped in a burning house in the southwestern French town of Moissac, authorities said on Sunday. (Posted @ 22:18 PST)
Abbas swears in new cabinet, outlaws Hamas fighters RAMALLAH, West Bank, June 17, (AFP) - Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas swore in his new cabinet on Sunday and immediately outlawed the rival Hamas movement's fighters after their bloody seizure of power in Gaza. (Posted @ 21:28 PST)
Two rockets strike N. Israel, no injuries: police JERUSALEM, June 17, (REUTERS) - Two Katyusha rockets landed in the northern Israeli town of Kiryat Shmona near the border with Lebanon on Sunday, causing damage but no injuries, a police spokesman said. (Posted @ 20:10 PST)
Three coalition troops, one Afghan killed in roadside blast KABUL, June 17, (AFP) - Three soldiers from the US-led coalition and an Afghan interpreter were killed Sunday in a roadside bomb attack in southern Afghanistan, a coalition spokesman told AFP. (Posted @ 19:36 PST)
US troops could be in Iraq for a decade: commander WASHINGTON, June 17, (AFP) - US troops could be needed in Iraq for a decade to battle insurgents, coalition commander General David Petraeus suggested Sunday. Speaking on Fox News, the US general said there was broad recognition that Iraq's daunting challenges would not be resolved “in a year or even two years.””In fact, typically, I think historically, counter-insurgency operations have gone at least nine or 10 years,” he said in response to a question about whether US forces could face a Korea-style deployment in Iraq for decades. (Posted @ 18:56 PST)
Kasuri leaves for Washington, to meet Condoleezza Rice and other American leaders ISLAMABAD, Jun 17 (APP) - Foreign Minister Khurshid M. Kasuri left here on Sunday for Washington to discuss with his US counterpart Condoleezza Rice cooperation in counter-terrorism, situation in Afghanistan, composite dialogue with India, the Middle East peace process and Iraq. (Posted @ 18:42 PST)
Abbas says top priority of new government is to lift international aid embargo RAMALLAH, West Bank June 17 (APP/AP) - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Sunday that the top priority of his new government is to bring about an end to the international aid embargo. Abbas said the emergency Cabinet, whose legitimacy has been challenged by Hamas, is a government of all the Palestinians. (Posted @ 18:04 PST)
Gulf Arabs won't be base for attack on Iran -Saudi RIYADH, June 17 Gulf Arab countries will not be used as a launch pad for any military attack on Iran, a powerful Saudi royal was quoted as saying on Sunday. Saudi Interior Minister Prince Nayef bin Abdul-Aziz said Iran had no interest in striking its oil-producing Arab neighbours if it comes under attack from the United States. “I think the brothers in Iran are totally aware that ... Iran will not be a source of harm for their neighbours and brothers ... These countries (Arab neighbours) will not be a source of harm for Iran,” he said in remarks late on Saturday carried by state news agency SPA. “Respect and consideration are mutual. I speak for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (relations) with Iran and for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC),” he added, referring to Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Oman. Nayef urged Iran to hand over militants suspected of plotting against the kingdom. (Posted @ 17:15 PST)
Abbas outlaws Hamas armed forces RAMALLAH, West Bank, June 17, (APP/AFP) - Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas on Sunday outlawed Hamas's armed wing and paramilitary force following its takeover of Gaza, his office said. “The executive force and Hamas are declared outside the law for having carried out an armed rebellion against Palestinian legitimacy and its institutions,” his office quoted an Abbas decree as saying. “Anyone whose ties with these groups is proven will be punished in accordance with the laws under the state of emergency,” it said. Abbas declared a state of emergencies in Gaza and the West Bank and sacked the Hamas-led government late Thursday, after Hamas fighters routed forces loyal to Abbas in the impoverished Gaza Strip. (Posted @ 15:50 PST)
Iraq: US attack helicopters kill 4 suspects, wound 3 south of Baghdad BAGHDAD U.S. attack helicopters killed four suspects and wounded three in operations south of Baghdad, the military said Sunday. The aircraft were operating in support of Iraqi army soldiers on the ground, who were engaged by insurgents, the U.S. military said in a statement. The incident took place Friday, it said. Suspected militants fired on the helicopters as they swooped in, then ran into a nearby structure, the statement said. One of the helicopters fired on the building, destroying it. Afterward, Iraqi soldiers found three sniper rifles, multiple hand grenades and black masks scattered amid the ruins of the building, the military said. (Posted @ 14:00 PST)
Israel will recognise a Palestinian gov't without Hamas: Olmert TEL AVIV, June 17 (AFP) -. “A Palestinian government which is not a Hamas government is a partner and we will cooperate with it,” Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told newsmen early Sunday before departing for a trip to the United States. “A new reality has been created during these past days which we haven't known during the long diplomatic efforts accompanying the evolution of the Palestinian Authority, and we have the intention of working full-tilt to seize this opportunity,” he added. (Posted @ 09:26 PST)
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